Benton County, Tennessee Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · TN
Very LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 39th
Benton County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 39.1, 39th national percentile), driven primarily by earthquake and landslide exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Benton County at very low composite risk, with a National Risk Index score of 39.1 out of 100 — placing it in the 39th national percentile and among the lowest-risk counties in the country. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
Risk here concentrates in earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $3M in expected annual loss and about 0.01 events per year; landslide (downhill movement of rock, soil, and debris on unstable slopes) at Low risk — $10K in expected annual loss and about 1.19 events per year; and cold wave (prolonged spells of dangerously low temperatures) at Medium risk — $2M in expected annual loss and about 1.68 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 16K.
Beyond physical exposure, Benton County has a high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a very low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
History supports the rating: Benton County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1971, including 14 for severe storm events and 3 for tornado events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 95 Tennessee counties, Benton County ranks #66 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Earthquake | Low | 0.01 / yr | $3M |
| Landslide | Low | 1.19 / yr | $10K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.68 / yr | $2M |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.70 / yr | $89K |
| Tornado | Low | 0.33 / yr | $1M |
| Strong Wind | Medium | 3.55 / yr | $472K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 7.79 / yr | $297K |
| Lightning | Low | 57.95 / yr | $169K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 0.02 / yr | $24K |
| Winter Weather | Low | 6.25 / yr | $34K |
| Drought | Low | 8.55 / yr | $23K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 1.32 / yr | $2M |
| Hail | Very Low | 3.02 / yr | $46K |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $4K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Benton County has received 22 federal disaster declarations since 1971, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (14), Tornado (3), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| May 2023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| July 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2020 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| December 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| May 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 22 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Benton County?
Benton County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 39th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Benton County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Earthquake (Low, $3M EAL), Landslide (Low, $10K EAL), Cold Wave (Medium, $2M EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Benton County compare to other Tennessee counties?
Benton County ranks #66 of 95 Tennessee counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Benton County had?
FEMA records 22 federal disaster declarations for Benton County since 1971, most often 14 for severe storm events and 3 for tornado events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in February 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Benton County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.